St. Lucie County authorities warn of scam asking for cash to receive big-money prize

Treasure Coast authorities warn of a scam that tells people they won something, though the fraud could lead to them losing everything.

Residents may receive an official-looking letter or email saying they won a large sum of money, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office said. The letter will be enclosed with an official-looking check and will ask the recipient to wire money to someone once the check is cashed as a "processing fee," the Sheriff's Office said.

But authorities said don't cash that check or follow any of the instructions in the letter. The check will bounce, and the bank will require the person who cashed it to cover the amount of the check, the Sheriff's Office said.

For several years, similar types of scams have been sent to Treasure Coast residents. The schemes offer large amounts of cash, vehicles and other prizes, but the common component is some of the money is sent to some stranger.

Even for people who haven't entered a contest or a sweepstakes, scam artists find ways to make them believe they still won, authorities said. Some scammers peruse obituary listings to contact families and tell them the loved one they recently lost had entered and won a contest.

HOW TO AVOID SCAMS

When buying over the phone or Internet, use credit cards, which provide some protection and a means to get your money back. Beware of any transaction with someone you don't normally do business with if they insist cash be wired or a money card be used.

Conduct regular credit checks to ensure there's no activity happening in your name of which you're not aware.

Protect yourself on social media by withholding private information from your accounts and double-checking your privacy settings. For the people you interact with on social media, make sure you personally know them. If you don't know the person, do not click on unfamiliar websites or download files they may send you.

Stay up to date on the latest scams by going to the Better Business Bureau's website, www.bbb.org, or by signing up for its scam alerts.